Application fees(VAC)

The bulk of the fees that are linked with the partner visa is the visa application fee or charge (VAC), which has climbed to $8,850 AUD as of 2024.

However, this fee primarily applies to the primary applicant, typically the foreign partner. If your partner has children who also intend to migrate to Australia with you, there are additional fees involved.

For dependent children under 18 years old, the fee is typically around 2,215 AUD (2024). Meanwhile, for adult dependents over 18 who are still reliant on you, the fee increases to approximately $4,430 AUD (2024).

 Visa-related health examinations

Health examinations are an essential aspect of any permanent visa application, requiring all individuals, including those not migrating with you, to undergo examination. 

Timing health examinations is challenging, especially for offshore applicants, given that partner visa processing times can extend up to 24-28 months (2024), while health results are valid for only 12 months. It’s advisable to wait for the case officer’s request for medicals rather than preloading them. Alternatively, you can initiate the health examination process midway through the processing period.

Onshore health examinations are exclusively conducted by Bupa Visa Medical Services, with an average cost of around $600 AUD (2024). 

Offshore health examinations can only be performed by Australian Government-approved panel physicians. There are often lengthy waiting periods and high associated costs. Some individuals even travel to different cities or countries to secure earlier appointments, incurring additional expenses for transportation and accommodation. Be sure to include these additional costs in your budgetary planning.

Police clearances for visa applications to Australia

The character requirements for the Australian partner visa necessitate providing police checks from countries where you’ve resided for 12 months or longer, including Australia.

If you’re applying onshore and have lived in Australia for over 12 months, you’ll require a police check from Australia as well, which costs only $42 AUD (2024). However, the cost of police checks from other countries can vary significantly. Prices range from $10 to $300, depending on the jurisdiction. Additionally, there are associated costs with obtaining these checks.

After obtaining the police check, certification of its authenticity may be required, often through notarization or certification by the relevant authority in that country. These additional steps also come with associated costs.

Overall it’s recommended to allocate around $300-$400 AUD in your budget for police checks due to the potential additional requirements and associated expenses.

Translation for your documentation

If your official documents aren’t in English due to your country’s language policies, you’ll need to translate them for your Australian partner visa application. English is the only accepted language for visa applications, which can significantly increase document gathering costs. Since most applicants originate from non-English-Speaking countries, translation expenses are common.

Translation into English must be conducted by a certified translator, either locally or in Australia. Translators typically charge per page, with additional fees for legal translations. It’s crucial to select a translator experienced in legal document translation to ensure accuracy. You could be facing translation fees of several hundred dollars, as all application materials must be in English. For example, bank statements demonstrating financial co-mingling must be translated for the case officer’s review.

Costs can be lower if translated in your home country however, it is essential to engage an officially certified translator. 

It’s recommended to allocate approximately $300-$400 for translation expenses.

Conclusion

The Australian partner visa incurs significant expenses, not just in visa application fees but also in various ancillary costs, both anticipated and unforeseen. An estimated amount to set aside would be around $10,250 AUD. It’s important to note this estimate does not factor individual circumstances.